Monument Name

Type

Subjects

Creator

City

County

Description

The 11 foot statue of Sir Walter Raleigh presents the great figure with his left hand on his hip and his right arm holding his cape. The statue is placed on a square base. The City of Raleigh's namesake is known for being a writer, soldier, courtier, and explorer.

Custodian

City of Raleigh and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts

Materials & Techniques

Sponsors

Monument Cost

Subject Notes

Controversies

A conflict arose after the monument was removed from its original spot on the Fayetteville Street Mall to be cleaned in Cincinnati. At the time, the Fayetteville Street Mall construction began, and it was necessary to remove the statue during the construction work. Raleigh city officials were unsure where to relocate the monument. After about two years (April 2005-July 2007), the statue was returned to Raleigh, and the City decided to move the monument to a new location in front of the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Location

The statue is located across from Salisbury Street in front of the entrance to the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Landscape

The statue is located on a walkway near the entrance to the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. A few small trees and bushes are located near the front of the monument.

Former Locations

The statue was originally located on the Fayetteville Street Mall until April 3, 2005 when it was sent to Cincinnati for cleaning and the pedestrian mall turned into a place for free flowing traffic. The statue was renovated in Cincinnati for about a year and three months and was returned during the Raleigh Wide Open 2 celebration on July 22, 2007. When the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts reopened in 2008, the statue was moved from the corner of South and Salisbury Street towards the entrance.

Approval Process

The plan to build a monument began around 1901 when the Sir Walter Raleigh Commission began to collect funds for the project from schoolchildren who collected spare change to donate to the fund. The Raleigh Monument Commission had resolved to dedicate the monument before October 29, 1918, but due to unforeseen circumstances (financial difficulties during the Great Depression), the final efforts to create the monument did not actually occur until the 1970s. Unfortunately, much of the money collected for the monument was lost during the Great Depression and the Commission was left with $10,228. Interest in building the monument was renewed prior to the Bicentennial, and Bruno Lucchesi was commissioned to build the statue.

Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.